[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1I-49394e7I?rel=0&wmode=transparent&autoplay=0]
Nice job by this fellow. Will he ever get out of the restaurant and onto stages? Can he if he has to work full-time to make ends meet? I hope so!

American Opera Singers Struggle To Begin Careers

The United States has an incredible music education system through the vast supply of universities, schools of music, conservatories and other educational and training platforms.  Therefore the American opera singers are possibly not only one of the most talented group of singer’s nationalities in the world but likely among the best educated.  A regular visit to auditon studios in New York will show you that there are huge amounts of singers in that city looking for their start in the world of opera.  Usually it is by singing in an opera company somewhere in the the USA for very little pay, a few performances and high expectations.

American Opera Singers Have To Make Ends Meet

American opera singers have to deal with a lot of financial pressure.  First of all there are the student loans that must be paid back, then there is the usual necessity to live close to New York, Philadelphia, Boston, San Fransisco or Los Angeles, all of which have a cost of living which is more in line with Corporate CEOs than with recent college arts graduates. Then the singer also has to continue their education by studying with the best teacher they can find and have the best pianists they can find and do this on a regular basis to keep the saw sharp.  So, the financial burden is great on the average graduate if they ever want to see the light of day as a performing artist.  Unless they win a big competition, get included in some studio programs their career chances fade as time goes on.  For many it takes years for most it never happens.

That of course is why I came to Europe, to escape the insanity.  I didn’t want to be one of those American opera singers lost in the shuffle of the New York scene. It just didn’t seem to make any sense.  I was fortunately accepted into the Zürich Opera Studio and by the virtue of being there sang for many agents in the first weeks of the program, had a couple of auditions and got my first contract in Germany by November.  It was 2 1/2 Months and I had my first German engagement. I spent the rest of the year in the studio studying with the people there, going to performances and preparing for my upcoming engagement. I was very fortunate, and I have sung for over 20 years in Germany in many different houses.  So, when I would visit New York on occasion and do some New York auditions I decided that it was indeed nonsense. I would rather work everyday at being an opera singer than work everyday to try and be one.

The Job Search To Earn A Living To Become One Of The American Opera Singers

I had just graduated with my Master’s from the Eastman School of Music and was working in a cafe still studying with my teacher and travelling to New York City to do auditions, it is at one of these auditions I was accepted into the Zürich Opera Studio. But, I will never forget one evening when I was working behind the coffee bar I had been talking to some customers who had asked me what I was doing there.  I told them I was preparing for a career in opera, and I heard them say under their voice, ”He must not be very good if he is working here to make ends meet.”  I wanted to scream, I was just out of grad school and had really only been singing for 5 years at that point. But this is the sort of thing American opera singers go through.

If you tell people you are working to be an opera singer you get that look of ”yeah right” and usually assume by the look on people’s faces that says ”You aren’t good enough.”  I know the look.  Then comes the question, ”OK, lets hear it!”  Like you are going to float La Boheme at the local bar. Gratefully there are some who get what you are trying to do, but the average Joe is clueless.

All of the temp work, waiting jobs, odd jobs and pinching pennies have two effects on an aspiring american opera singers, it makes them tired, it doesn’t pay much and it doesn’t promote their careers in the least, unless you work at an Italian restaurant that has singing waiters.

I have always looked for a way to be able to make solid money, be able to be the artist I want to be and promote my career at the same time.  I figure there must be a better way.  Well, I have found it!  The amazing thing is, several of the people involved in this business are musicians, actors, parents of actors and the such. To find out about this truly genius opportunity give this link a try and see what it is all about.  There is a better way!  Imagine making a great living, not have to wait tables and be able to coach and learn with the best in the business. It is all possible. Give it a good look!